Kirk Cousins' Eventful Week at Raiders Camp: From Practice Altercation to Backstreet Boys Concert
Kirk Cousins had an eventful week at Raiders camp, culminating in a fun outing with his wife Julie Hampton to see the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The quarterback shared photos on Instagram Stories of the couple posing with the band members in their futuristic stage outfits. This came after a heated incident with Maxx Crosby during practice earlier in the week, which led to both players being benched for a session.
The photos showed Cousins and Hampton in matching all-white outfits, standing with AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell backstage. A video clip captured the show from the crowd, showcasing the Sphere's impressive interior screen. The altercation with Crosby occurred when the defensive end tipped Cousins' pass for the second time and clipped his throwing arm, leading to a confrontation that required teammates to intervene.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak made the decision to bench both Cousins and Crosby for a practice session following the incident. This allowed No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza to take snaps with the starting offense in Cousins' absence. However, both Cousins and Crosby returned to practice with the team at the beginning of the following week.
Cousins' connection with the Backstreet Boys goes back to the Battle for Vegas charity softball game in June, where he expressed his desire to see the band perform. This stemmed from a friendly joke between Cousins and Nick Carter, referencing Cousins' impressive comeback performance against Carter's former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 2015. Despite the on-field rivalry, Cousins has had success against the Buccaneers in his career, showcasing his talent as a quarterback.